Critique My Electricians Estimate

[epicseeds]

So I just had an electrician come out to estimate how much it would be to install a 100A subpanel. The main circuit panel is about 80 feet directly across the grow room. What I need done is to simply install a subpanel inside the grow room. His estimate came to $1200 which includes all the hardware and obviously the work.

Does this sound fair? If you need any more info to better evaluate, let me know.

 

[onetime64]

Many factors but that seems right!

 

[dunkydunk]

That doesn't sound too bad, a lot depends on where you are (and I'm not asking), and whether your electrician is doing the work as part of his business, or is doing the work for extra money on the weekend.

I'd expect a price closer to $800-$1000, but electrical work is time consuming when it's done right, and the price of copper has been very high for a couple years now.

 

[4 Fun]

Is the sub panel going to have breakers and outlets for you to plug in your stuff?

Check his material prices at Home Depot or wherever you can. Usually the hardest part of the job is getting the cable into the existing panel, the rest of the work is pretty easy.

 

[RedRain]

pay the man, if you cant do it yourself its probably worth it to pay him the $1200

make sure you get high heat shutoffs to cut power if your room gets too hot!!

 

[epicseeds]

Is the sub panel going to have breakers and outlets for you to plug in your stuff? .

Yes all the breakers will be included. It will be a 60A + two 20A's

 

[dubwise]

Find out if he'll knock a little off the price if you assist him with the labor. You could learn a lot and come out a bit cheaper!

 

[Lazyman]

Yeah about right, 7 years ago I paid an electrician $900 to run a single 40A and 2 20A circuits into my back bedroom, about 35 feet from the main panel.

 

[newmexgrow]

sounds good to me

sounds good to me

the copper is pretty expensive even at HD..my 100amp sub panel ran $800 using a retired electrician and maybe 15 feet from the main panel. Mine was 240/120 so he had to use three large main cables and a 10ga ground wire. Two 50's for the 240 and two 20's for the support gear. Had him put a 16 spot panel in planning for future expansion. All done by the book..metal conduit to the sub panel. The inspector knew this guy and when he came over, he tested the outlets..checked the main panel connections and stamped it. No other equipment was installed yet, I left a big ass electric welder and compressor in the room for effect

 

[RedRain]

copper fluctuates just like currency

whether its copper for water pipe, refrigeration pipe, or wire, its gonna fluctuate. A copper line set in dec cost me $120 less than it does today. That is just roughly 2-3 weeks ago!!

 

[Yes4Prop215]

thats about right...electricians dont come cheap....they gotta do a decent amount of work cutting out walls, running wire, crawling around underneath the house wiring stuff...doesnt look like fun. i paid 1700 and got my g-room wired 100 amp with 4 circuits, upgraded wiring in the 30amp dryer, rewire and replace 2 circuits in my kitchen, install new lamps, and get overall inspection of entire electric system.

 

[Stress_test]

Well 80' from where though?
Through how many walls or ceilings?

But yeah it sounds about right. You gotta remember that you're payin him to keep his mouth shut too.

 

[moresntoil]

I have to say if it is just a SER cable being run and one 100Asub panel being set that is a job I would take for $1200 in a heart beat. easy money

The wire being used may not be copper, if you guys are using the same materials we use her in the NE it would be aluminum, unless the wires are going to be pulled in conduit, then it would be a copper thhn wire or an equiv, which would be alot more.


you have to consider where you live, I have lived in areas where "sidework" pays much better than what it pays where I live now.Is the electrician insured? that too can increase cost.

Is a PE print and stamp required by local code? $$$$$

Will you have to pay for an inspection? if so is that cost included in the $1200?
here about $180 for inspect

alot of info is needed to say if it is fair or not, where I live it would be a high price, but where you live it may be a lower end quote. that is assuming you are using some one under the table, if using a licensed/insured electrician it is a fair price.

If you are scared to death of electricity and dont know anything about it, then just pay the guy, or like someone else said, ask if you could help him to save yourself some cash.

remember state and local codes (not nec) can differ greatly so its hard to get answers from people all over the country/world.

sorry to ramble on, hope that helped somewhat, moresntoil

 

[moresntoil]

Well 80' from where though?
Through how many walls or ceilings?

But yeah it sounds about right. You gotta remember that you're payin him to keep his mouth shut too.

very good point, it would suck if he came back in a couple months and helped himself, or blows you in if your not leg.
hell maybe you should slip him a little extra!!!

 

[gdawg]

Throw in a case of beer

 

[Fred el Gato]

Works in my neck of the woods. Grow on

 

[SwampCabbage]

Looking to get quoted this week, had a few questions. What do you think about goin with someone who advertises as a "420 friendly electrician" good idea or bad idea? Are these quotes based off hourly rates or just general complexity of job? Thanks.

 

[TruthOrLie]

I would get someone who advertises nothing to do with cannabis. Hire an electrician and tell him how excited you're going to be to set up your new computers. Go on and on about how you don't want to overload the system. Let him think he's getting over on you big time for the job.

 

[Asil]

To run the full 100 amps out of ur sub panel u will have to use #4cu or #2al wire. Which on average is running from $1.50ft to $2.50ft. plus the panel and breakers u are looking at anther 100-150 in materials.
Depending on the stuff in the way of running the wire, it is a fairly simple job. Can't see it taking more then 3 hours, even if it was all day most sparkies get about $30/hr cash on the side. And there are plenty of electricains sitting on the unemployment bench in there union halls right now. so u would have maybe anther $240 in labour.

Long story short I think it is over priced.

 

[moresntoil]

To run the full 100 amps out of ur sub panel u will have to use #4cu or #2al wire. Which on average is running from $1.50ft to $2.50ft. plus the panel and breakers u are looking at anther 100-150 in materials.
Depending on the stuff in the way of running the wire, it is a fairly simple job. Can't see it taking more then 3 hours, even if it was all day most sparkies get about $30/hr cash on the side. And there are plenty of electricains sitting on the unemployment bench in there union halls right now. so u would have maybe anther $240 in labour.

Long story short I think it is over priced.

Im with you, unless the area has so much work going on right now that the electricians are able to charge whatever they want, and I dont think thats the case, so ya price is a bit high.